Windermere Curbs Use Of Boat Ramps

WINDERMERE — The town council has unanimously passed an ordinance that makes it illegal for non-residents of Windermere to launch or take out boats at the town's boat ramps.

The ordinance, which was passed Tuesday as an emergency measure and is effective immediately, does not prevent non-residents from using the county boat ramp on Lake Down in Windermere.

Complaints from residents about excessive traffic of vehicles with trailers spurred Police Chief Jeff Villella to bring the issue to the council in June. Villella told the council that the town's boat launching ordinance contained no enforcement clause and did not refer to taking boats out of the water on the town's property.

The council agreed that the ordinance needed an enforcement clause containing a fine and jail term.

Town residents or owners of property in Windermere may launch and take out their boats at the county boat ramp and the two town parks with boat ramps at Seventh Avenue and Butler Street and at Ninth Avenue and Lake Bessie. Residents using the town's ramps must abide by the times and conditions posted at the locations.

Anyone convicted of violating the ordinance can be fined up to $200 or sent to jail for as many as 60 days, or both. Signs detailing the penalties will be posted.

The council also unanimously voted to contribute up to $1,000 to join other cities in fighting the county's proposal to increase city residents' cost of law enforcement. If the county keeps its current system, city residents would pay $4.69 and county residents would pay $5.97 for every $1,000 of assessed taxable property. If the county approves the proposal, county and city residents would pay about $5.30 for every $1,000 of assessed taxable property.